Portable washing apparatus



Feb. 15, 1944.

v. LUNDGREN-JoNsoN 2,341,729

PORTABLE WASHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1943 Patented Feb. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES1 PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE WASHING APPARATUS Valborg Lundgren-Jonson, Detroit, Mich. Application January 16, 1943, Serial No. 472,635

I (C1. css- 214) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to portable washing apparatus, and its principal object is to provide simple and convenient means whereby the washing of small pieces of delicate silk and rayon hose, `as well as lace-trimmed lingerie and handkerchiefs, et cetera, may be performed easily and quickly, and in a more eflicient manner, than is possible with the mechanical and other washing machines in common use.

Moreover, since the properpreservation of articles of the character above mentioned requires that they be washed ahnost daily instead of being stored in a soiled condition until the regular wash-day, it is necessary to do this work in the bath room or over the kitchen sink, and my improved apparatus is well adapted for this, on account of its small size, light weight, and the infinitesimal amount of soap consumed in the work.`

A further object of my said invention is to provide means for rinsing and wringing out the various pieces without immersing the hands in the hot suds with consequent injury to the skin and without bringing the fabric in contact with the finger nails which, as is well known, often results in tearing and producing runs in hose and other thin and fragile materials.

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the character referred to which is simple in construction and which is adapted to be manufactured cheaply by modern massproduction methods so that its low cost places it within the reach of all classes.

With the above recited and other objects in view, I will now describe a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical central section of the complete apparatus.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the construction of the cup or plunger.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the polygonal character of the operating handle to be hereinafter referred to, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the connection of the draw-string to the terminal loops of the sac to be hereinafter described.

Like characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawing, I designates the container, of metal or other suitable material having a detachable lid 2 in which are L-shaped slots 2| which engage studs I upon the container so as to form what is commonly termed a bayonet joint. In the center of the lid 2 is an opening 22 through which passes the vertical handle 3 of the washing device, the said opening being surrounded by a cup-shaped packing 23 of rubber or other soft material adapted to prevent undue splashing of the suds |2 from the container to the outside. The lid is provided with any suitable form of handles such as designated 24 for putting the lid on and off and for holding the container stationary during the washing operation.

Near the upper end of the handle 3 is a polygonal portion 3| and secured to its lower end is a cup-like member 4 of substantially hemispherical shape, made from rubber, plastic, or other suitable material, the said member being provided on its interior surface with annular projections 4| of triangular shape, and between these projections are openings 42 provided for the escape of the suds during the downward movement of the cup. Suspended from the lower edge of the cup is a net-like structure 5 formed from cords 5|, at the intersections of which are relatively large knots or projections 52, as shown. The net 5 has upper and lower terminal loops, the upper of which engage in an annular groove 43 in the cup and are held therein by a circumferential draw-string 53, while the lower terminal loops are connected by a draw-string 54, the ends of which pass through openings 6| in a transverse handle 60, as shown in Fig. 4, and when in use are drawn together and tied in a knot, as shown in Figure 1.

In operation, the container is lled to a suit-y able level, such as indicated at I2, with soap suds or other detergent liquid and the articles "l, to be washed, are placed within the net by unfastening the draw-string 54 and pulling open the terminal loops, after which the net is closed and the washing is eiiected by vertical reciprocatoiy movement of the handle 3 by which the articles are agitated and moved around in the liquid,

Vwhile at the same time air and suds are forced through them and out through the openings 42 so that the liquid surges through the fabric and removes the dirt, and simultaneously, the knots 52 of the net impinge upon the articles and further increase the cleansing action, the combined eiect of the various elements just described resulting in an unusually quick completion of the washing operation.

'Ihis being done, the handle 3, together with the cup and the lled net, is drawn upwardly lwithin the opening 22 in the cover and, without the removal of the work pieces, the Whole is immersed in a rinsing water or other liquid either in the main or any auxiliary container, after which, by taking hold of the handle 3 at the polygonal portion 3l thereof and with the other hand turning the handle 60, the net, together with the contents, may be twisted together to the required extent so as to wring out almost all of the rinsing water, this and the previous operations being effected entirely without touching the work pieces with the hands.

In order to prevent rotation of the upper terminal loops in relation to the cup, due to the torsional force exerted during the wringing operation, I may provide a series of vertical notches 44 extending from the lower edge of the cup into the annular groove 43, in whichnotches the loops are positively engaged, as shown in Figure 2' of the drawing.

It will be observed from the foregoing' description and by reference to the drawing that I have provided an apparatus by which the washing andwringing operations may be performed quickly and more thoroughly than is possible with devices atv present invuse. Further, my apparatus is well adapted for operation in small apartments where the size and expense of washing machines is prohibitive, and where the latt/er, together with the mechanical wringers attached thereto, are highly destructive of the class of fabrics of the kind referred to, which, moreover, on account of their delicate and expensive character, can not be entrusted to the commercial laundries.

While I have herein described and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the same pertains that Various modications and changes in detail may be made to suitany particular or peculiar requirement without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the polygonal portion at the upper end of the handle may be provided with wrench means for obtaining a greater torque during the wringing process. It is contemplated that the cup may be made from rubber or plastic having on its lower edge a rim of rubber, and the sac for receiving the work-pieces may be made from any kind of foraminous material arranged for convenient detachment and replacement when worn.

Having thus described my said invention, what I .claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising a handle, an inverted cup-shaped member upon the lower end of said handle, and a sac of net material having its upper end detachably secured to the periphery of said member and its lower end being open but provided with closure means whereby said lower end may either be closed to retain work-pieces or may be opened for insertion and removal of said workpieces.

2. An apparatus of the' character described comprising a handle, an inverted cup-shaped member upon the lower end of said handle, and a sac of net material having its upper end detachably secured to the periphery of said member and its lower end being open but provided with closure means whereby said lower end may either be closed to retain work-pieces or may be opened for insertion and removal. of saidworkpieces, said lower end being provided also with a rigid transverse member whereby said sac'may be twisted to wring out moisture from said workpieces. v

VALBORG LUNDGREN-JONSON. 

